Patience proved to be an important virtue for Spain. They had to wait for a delayed kickoff due to, among other things, Tom Cruise’s speech. At halftime they had to wait twice as long as usual. And they had to wait until 106 minutes of play and their 20th shot before Ferran Torres scored the goal that gave them their second Men’s World Cup win.
For much of Sunday’s final, that moment felt entirely about time, as the European champions completely outclassed their South American counterparts.
As they did in their impressive semi-final performance against France, Spain dominated the ball early and their teenage superstar Lamine Yamal came close to scoring in the fifth minute. A few seconds later, at the other end of the pitch and on a scale for the ages, Lionel Messi was beaten by Spanish keeper Unai Simón on a through ball. It was close to making a significant impact on the 39-year-old Messi’s game in what was probably his last match at the World Cup.
Spain dominated the ball in the first half at the New York New Jersey Stadium, but Argentina held firm, with Emi Martínez making a clever save from Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal as the sides came close before the long interval.
Half time show keeps players waiting
For the first time in World Cup history, a Super Bowl-style halftime show was held. Artists including Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS extended the break to almost double the standard 15 minutes – contrary to both football convention and FIFA laws.
This was not enough to change the pattern of play. As Spain continued to press forward, Argentina continued to rely on scraps, trouble and Martínez to keep out Spanish shots.
A red card for midfielder Enzo Fernandez in injury time made Argentina’s task even more difficult in extra time than in the final, as it has now been in five of the last six finals. Argentina were exhausted but somehow held on, with Spain facing repeated defeats.
spain keeps composed
Surely the South Americans, who failed to take a single shot the entire game, couldn’t somehow win it?
But Spain have already proved they will not panic by scoring late winners in their two knockout matches. Indeed, the final somewhat resembled their tournament opener – a 0–0 draw with Cape Verde. After that, Spain slipped under the radar for a while because it lacked the cutting-edge thinking to make it count.
But as the tournament has progressed, Luis de la Fuente’s side have delivered a masterclass in control as they sharpened their attacking weapons to win their first World Cup since 2010. Spain’s women are also becoming world champions by winning the tournament in 2023.
The shadow of Iran on the World Cup, the shadow of Balogun controversy!
The final brought to an end a tournament that has offered much from a sporting perspective: Cape Verde’s heroics, the race between Messi and Kylian Mbappe for the tournament – and overall World Cup – top scorer and shocks such as Germany’s exit to Paraguay and Norway’s upset of Brazil.
But politics has also proved impossible to ignore.
Blocking Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the United States made it clear that this was not the World Cup for the entire world. Iran’s behavior, forced to move in and out of games and resulting in less time to prepare, was reminiscent of the conflict between the US and Iran.
Donald Trump’s intervention in suspending the red card ban for American striker Folarin Balogun also heightened questions already raised about FIFA corruption.
But ultimately the tournament was decided in the same way as it has always been. And, on Sunday in New Jersey, the matter was once again decided in Spain’s favor.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery